The Cornell Central Heating Plant provides steam to the campus community for space heating, hot water and research. Approximately 250 buildings are heated via an underground steam supply system consisting of 13 miles of piping. An additional 12 miles of piping returns the condensate from the buildings to the plant. It is then reheated and sent out again as steam.
The steam is produced from varying combinations of six different boilers, which are fueled by coal, gas or oil. The boilers used are dependent on the steam load needed, operational considerations and production cost. Steam is produced around the clock, year round.
Before the steam is sent out to the campus, the pressure and temperature are reduced via two steam turbines. Electricity is produced in this process as a by-product of heating the campus. This is referred to as cogeneration. The primary goal of this system is to produce some of the electricity required for the campus at nearly 80% efficiency (twice the efficiency of conventional generation).
Staff
Ed Wilson
Central Heating Plant / Chilled Water Manager
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